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I find it rather odd but shove my curiosity aside as we all take our seats. Georgie and Solana return to the sofa, and Judge keeps me close to his side on the chaise opposite them.
“So?” Georgie arches a brow at me. “Are we going to get any explanation?”
I don’t miss the way his eyes dart to Judge’s hand around my back in question. That question feels like a what the hell are you doing, Mercedes?
“I’m so sorry I haven’t been in contact,” I begin, trying to gather my thoughts as I speak.
I didn’t really have a plan for how I was going to explain my absence, but I don’t think it matters. There’s nothing I can really say to justify it. All I can hope is that I convince them I’m okay, and they don’t need to worry about me. This is how things are handled in IVI. Society business stays in The Society.
“Tell us what’s going on,” Solana pleads.
“I—” My voice fractures slightly before Judge’s fingers press into me.
“Mercedes was involved in an incident,” Judge supplies for me. “For her protection, she needed to come stay with me, and she’s been under my care. It’s for her own safety.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Georgie narrows his gaze at him.
“We want a word with Mercedes in private,” Solana demands.
I look at Judge in a silent plea. He knows they aren’t going to take his word, and I need him to trust that I can handle this. He’s only making things worse right now by trying to manage the situation for me.
His arm stiffens around me as he realizes what I want, but reluctantly, he nods and rises to his feet.
“I’ll go check on dinner,” he grunts before shooting Georgie a warning look. And then, to top things off, he leans down and brushes his lips against my forehead in a gentle kiss.
It shocks me so much I can’t seem to speak when he releases me. I’m still staring after him in confusion when he leaves the room, and it’s only the sound of Solana’s voice that brings me back to the present.
“Mercedes, what the hell is going on?” She comes to my side, Georgie squeezing in on the other. “Who is that guy?”
“He’s my… guardian,” I try to explain.
Both of them frown. I don’t know how to navigate this situation. I’ve never needed to describe something like this to an outsider. Everyone in The Society understands the rules, but the rest of the world doesn’t. It isn’t something they can wrap their heads around. It will take a delicate balance of giving them enough information to satiate their concerns but not too much to endanger them.
“You’re twenty-five years old,” Georgie says. “Why would you need a guardian?”
“It’s… complicated,” I grumble. “But this is how things work in my world. I know it’s hard to understand but please try. It’s Judge’s job to protect me. He wasn’t lying about that.”
“Protect you from what?” Solana asks.
I dip my gaze to the floor, recalling the reason I ended up here in the first place. “From myself, mostly.”
They glance at each other, and Georgie’s hand squeezes mine. “Are you in danger?”
“Do you want to be here?” Solana adds.
“I’m not in danger,” I assure them, though nothing has ever felt like more of a lie. “And… I’m safe here.”
They aren’t fooled by my vague assertions, and it shows.
“I just don’t understand this,” Georgie growls. “Something isn’t right. We want you to come back with us. Please, Mercedes.”
“I can’t do that.” I offer him a shaky smile. “I’m sorry, but—”
“Are you in the mafia?” Solana whispers, her eyes wide. “Is that it?”
I can’t help but laugh at her observation, but she doesn’t share my amusement.
“What else am I supposed to think?” she hisses quietly. “You’re so guarded about your life. Your family. We realized after you disappeared how little we actually know about you. Then this guy shows up at Georgie’s shop, throwing around his wealth, and gives us this address with a mysterious invitation. And this place… it’s like a fucking fortress. None of it adds up.”
